Open Wide: New Endoscope Gives Horses A Better Dental Exam

To remain healthy, horses need to have their teeth “floated” at least once a year. During this dental process, sharp edges are removed so that the horse is able to graze and chew comfortably. To perform dental floats well, a veterinarian must use a tool to hold the horse’s mouth open, and use a headlamp and a mirror to look into the mouth of a sedated horse.

Auburn University is utilizing a new dental endoscope to examine the horse’s mouth more fully and teach aspiring vet students. The tool has a small camera and a light that shines while inside the horse’s mouth, making it easier to see potential issues. Horses tolerate the endoscope well—in some cases better than the manual exams; the camera also allows for more-rapid exam completion.

Equine skulls are long and narrow, with a limited-range opening. The endoscope has a rigid shaft, a halogen light and a chip camera to help discover any issues. The camera is Bluetooth equipped and can produce still images or video in real time, allowing both veterinarian and student to see exactly what the camera sees on a computer screen or smart phone.